SGPC to take action against HSGMC

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 27

Under fire for releasing Nanakshahi calendar in Ambala on Monday, the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) said today it would counter the “negative” campaign by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, for its part, announced to take action against the Haryana Sikh outfit.

“The HSGMC is distributing the Akal-Takht-approved calendar prepared by the SGPC. So, why take permission from the SGPC for printing the calendar. We have the right to get it printed for Haryana Sikhs,” said Joga Singh, general secretary, HSGMC. He, along with other members, was in the city today.

Sources said the HSGMC has published 10,000 copies of Nanakshahi calendar. It plans to circulate the copies during series of programmes to mark the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh. The programmes will continue till March. In the first such programme in Ambala district on Monday, the HSGMC distributed around 1,000 copies.

Joga Singh said, “The HSGMC had not changed the SGPC’s calendar. It has printed a photo of a gurdwara in Cheeka and mentioned the address of the HSGMC’s head office.”

He further said the HSGMC, like the SGPC, had the right to print its state office address for the convenience of Haryana Sikhs.

“The calendar mentions that the publisher is the chairman of the HSGMC’s Dharam Parchar Committee. SGPC members are trying to spread rumours against us. We have devised a strategy to counter their negative campaign at village level in Haryana,” said Joga Singh.

Balwinder Singh, additional secretary, Dharam Parchar Committee,SGPC, said: “The Supreme Court has ordered status quo in a case pertaining to the HSGMC’s formation. So, the Haryana outfit doesn’t have the right to publish SGPC Nanakshahi calendar under its name. We will see what action is to be taken.”